Dixon put Germany second at 11 per cent and France third at 8 per cent .
EA Sports – creator of the Fifa gaming franchise and which has correctly predicted winners of the previous three World Cups by simulating all 64 matches on their game – said Argentina would lift the trophy. Spain’s victory at the 2010 tournament in South Africa was the last Reuters survey to correctly predict the winner. Economists failed to forecast Italy’s fourth title in 2006 or the last two won by Germany and France.England’s continual failure to bring the trophy home for the first time since 1966 has not discouraged 5 per cent of forecasters saying they would do so in 2022.